Fujitsu introduces world's first biodegradable mouse

Last year, Fujitsu introduced a keyboard where nearly half of the plastic normally used was replaced with biodegradable bio- or wood-based substitutes. The company continues its green crusade this year with the introduction of what's claimed to be the world's first biodegradable computer mouse. The M440 ECO optical mouse sports a PVC-free USB cable and is made from a combination of the same Arboform and Biograde materials used in the keyboard – reducing our dependence on oil-based resources one click at a time.

In outward appearance, the new member of Fujitsu's Green IT range looks just like any other two-buttoned, scroll mouse. But instead of using plastic, the 1000 dpi resolution optical M440 ECO is made from Arboform – which is based on a by-product of the paper-making process called lignin – and Biograde – a compostable and biodegradable cellulose acetate. The material making up the outer shell is said to have more elasticity than other renewable materials, offering users a little more ergonomic comfort.

Even the 5.9 foot (1.8 meter) USB cable boasts some green credentials. Fujitsu says it helps to reduce carbon dioxide emissions during manufacture and reckons that making the switch to its new ECO mouse "saves approximately 60,000 kilograms of plastic per year." Any internal components that don't naturally break down over time can be stripped out and recycled before the peripheral is disposed of.

Both the KBPC PX ECO keyboard and the new M440 ECO mouse are currently available in the UK, the latter being priced at GBP11 (US$17).